Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 145

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**TITLE: Where Sleeping Rivers Dream We Follow Trails Toward Tomorrow by Evan Milesa Cade 145**

“I, too, shall partake in this indulgence,” Aveline purred, her voice a sultry melody that danced through the air.

Valentin inhaled sharply, a wave of dread washing over him. He had hoped against hope that the guests would refrain, but deep down, he understood that many were drawn to Renatus’s infamous “dessert” like moths to a flame. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned the entertainment once more. This time, instead of a lone girl, three female wolves emerged gracefully from the shadows. The first two approached Aveline and Francois, settling themselves beside their chairs with an effortless elegance. Almost immediately, the two vampires leaned forward, their cold faces nuzzling against the soft skin of the women’s necks, lost in a moment of dark intimacy.

But it was the third female who stole Valentin’s breath away. With her striking red hair cascading like a waterfall and soft, angelic features, she was a vision of beauty that made his heart plummet. It was Zahara. A jolt of panic surged through him, and he felt as if the ground had shifted beneath his feet. He had believed her to be safe, confined within Aveline’s chambers, serving as her waiting maid, far removed from the predatory gaze of Renatus.

Zahara’s eyes widened in shock as she landed in Renatus’s lap, her honey-colored gaze locking onto Valentin’s. The color drained from her cheeks, turning them a deep crimson as Renatus buried his face into her neck, inhaling her scent with a hunger that made Valentin’s stomach churn. He stood frozen, a helpless observer, as Renatus opened his mouth slightly, enough to graze the delicate skin of her neck with his teeth. A soft whimper escaped Zahara’s lips, a sound that twisted like a knife in Valentin’s gut.

“Valentin,” Renatus called out, his voice smooth yet commanding, slicing through the tension in the room. Valentin’s heart raced, threatening to leap from his chest as Renatus lifted his head, his gaze locking onto Valentin’s with an intensity that felt almost predatory. “Come here, boy.”

With every step he took across the polished floor, Valentin felt like a marionette, strings pulled taut with dread. He halted before Renatus, who was now collecting Zahara’s blood on his finger, a grotesque act that sent shivers down Valentin’s spine. The finger, glistening with the crimson liquid, was thrust toward Valentin’s mouth.

“Taste,” Renatus commanded, his tone leaving no room for disobedience.

Valentin swallowed hard, his throat dry and scratchy like sandpaper. Slowly, Renatus dipped his finger into Valentin’s mouth, coating it with Zahara’s blood. The metallic, acrid taste exploded across his senses, causing him to gag involuntarily.

Renatus clicked his tongue, a sound dripping with disdain, and used his finger to force Valentin’s jaw shut. “Now, now,” he murmured, a sinister smile creeping across his lips. “Swallow and savor it, for it is the most of her you’ll ever possess.”

With a deep, reluctant breath, Valentin complied, battling the nausea that threatened to overwhelm him. Renatus’s gaze bore into him, his red eyes mirroring the color of Aveline’s gown, the same shade as the warm liquid sliding down Zahara’s quivering neck. There was a hardness in Renatus’s stare, a demand for submission that sent a chill racing through Valentin.

“I’ve heard whispers, you know,” Renatus taunted, a mocking lilt to his voice. “Rumors that you and she share some… feelings for one another. How quaint. My two most loyal servants harboring such impure thoughts? Surely, the gossip was mistaken.”

Renatus’s attention shifted back to Zahara, and he swiped his hand along the side of her neck, collecting the blood that had pooled there. It smeared across her skin, a vivid reminder of his possession. As she whimpered softly, Renatus brought his bloodied hand to his lips, licking it clean with a sound of delight. Then, he turned back to Valentin, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

“I do not take kindly to those who covet what is mine,” he snapped, though his expression softened just a fraction. “But you, my most loyal servant, have been gifted a taste.”

A twisted smirk spread across his face as Valentin watched in horror. Renatus’s bloodied hand trailed down Zahara’s front, dipping into the valley between her breasts and slipping beneath her skirts. Zahara gasped, her face flushing deeper, and she bit her lip to stifle any sounds of distress. Leaning closer, Renatus brought his bloodied lips to Valentin’s ear, the words dripping with malice.